Frankel, Canford Cliffs face only two rivals in Sussex

A select field of four will line up for the most anticipated race of the

summer after FRANKEL (Galileo [Ire]), CANFORD CLIFFS (Tagula), RIO DE LA PLATA (Rahy)

and RAJSAMAN (Linamix) were Monday declared for the £300,000 Sussex S. (Eng-G1)

at Goodwood on Wednesday.

Billed as the "Duel on the Downs," the mile contest sees the outstanding

three-year-old Frankel, currently rated the best horse in the world, go

toe-to-toe with last year's victor Canford Cliffs, who was hailed as the top

older miler on the planet following his defeat of the great Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa)

at Royal Ascot last month.

The Sir Henry-Cecil-trained Frankel, last year's joint-champion two-year-old,

stunned seasoned observers when storming to a scintillating six-length victory

in the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) at Newmarket in May and followed up with

success in the St James's Palace S. (Eng-G1) at the Royal Meeting in June.

An added draw to the "Duel on the Downs" is the contrasting styles of the two

principals. Canford Cliffs is a renowned hold-up performer with a blistering

late turn of foot whereas Frankel, up to now, has dominated his rivals with

devastating mid-race pace and a long surge for home.

Rio de la Plata, successful in the Vintage S. (Eng-G2) over the course as a 

two-year-old, is a solid Group 1 performer for Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin

Suroor. The five-year-old also landed the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Fr-G1) as a

juvenile and collected a pair of Group 1 races over a mile and 10 furlongs in

Italy last autumn. He was fourth to the Richard Hannon-trained Canford Cliffs in

the Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot.

French trainer Freddie Head is hoping that Rajsaman can succeed where his

illustrious stablemate Goldikova failed, by overcoming Canford Cliffs. The

four-year-old colt was last seen finishing strongly to take third in the Prix

d'Ispahan (Fr-G1) at Longchamp in May, just a length behind the great mare.

"I am delighted with the field for the QIPCO Sussex S.," said Adam Waterworth,

managing director at Goodwood Racecourse. "The whole focus was the 'Duel on the

Downs,' so to get the big two is fantastic. Obviously, we have known about that

for a couple of weeks, but it is still always a relief to see them still in

there with the race just two days away.

"Numerically, we would have hoped for a few more runners than the four we

have, but with Frankel and Canford Cliffs in there, it is not too big a surprise

to see a small field.

"It is brilliant that we have a runner from France for the first time in a

while and Rio de la Plata is a very good horse who has a little bit of history

at Goodwood. We have four fantastic horses in the race and we can't wait for the

day.

"I cannot think of a Flat race that has attracted the attention and

anticipation that this race has. A lot of that comes down to the contrasting

running styles of the two main protagonists.

"To get what looks like being the best three-year-old we have seen in a very

long time up against a four-year-old that is already proven is brilliant.

Tactically, I think it is going to be a fascinating race, with those two horses

and the way they run.

"You do not necessarily need 12 runners to have a spectacular race. I think

we would have a great race with only Frankel and Canford Cliffs but the fact

that we have another two in there that are very good horses in their own right

is fantastic. I just cannot wait for 10 past three on Wednesday."

Wednesday's excellent card also features the £60,000 Vintage for

two-year-olds over seven furlongs, which has seven declarations.

They include RED DUKE (Hard Spun), who took the Superlative S. (Eng-G2) over

the distance at Newmarket on July 9 for trainer John Quinn, defeating the

Hannon-trained CHANDLERY (Choisir) by a neck.

Hannon saddled King Torus (Oratorio [Ire]) to land the prize last season, and

Chandlery is the pick of a quartet that the trainer has declared for the

prestigious prize. The others are the twice-raced and unbeaten RED SEVENTY (Sakhee),

Newmarket maiden victor ROCKINANTE (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) and Lingfield

maiden winner MINAL (Compton Place).

The trainer also took the race in 1986 with subsequent Guineas hero Don't

Forget Me.

Clive Cox won the Vintage in 2009 with Xtension (Xaar) and is set to saddle

LETHAL FORCE (Dark Angel), who exhibited high-class form on June 14 when less

than two lengths fourth to Power (Oasis Dream [GB]) in the Coventry S. (Eng-G2)

at Royal Ascot.

Mark Johnston won this race with Lucky Story (2003) and the outstanding

Shamardal (2003). The trainer runs ELKHART (Refuse to Bend [Ire]), who was third

to Rockinante at Newmarket before easily landing a Beverley maiden on July 2.

Glorious Goodwood runs over five days, from Tuesday through Saturday.